Militia? Well Regulated? Huh?

              A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

It’s quite inspiring to see citizens and residents of the United States exercising their Constitutional rights – whether it’s a newspaper exposing corruption or an average person on the street corner espousing their views on religion. And over the past two months some folks were feeling especially patriotic -- protected by the warmth of the Second Amendment (written above).

 

Name: Lovelle Mixon

• Member of the California militia

• If Charlton Heston was alive, the former president of the National Rifle Association would surely be beaming with pride as militia member Mixon blew away four police officers in Oakland, California. Always over-acting, Heston was fond of holding up a rifle and exclaiming, “… from my cold, dead hands.” I am sure the Oakland cops were grateful that Mr. Heston spent so much time protecting their Constitutional rights as they were sprayed with bullets by a criminal violating parole for assault with a deadly weapon.

 

Name: Suspect Richard Poplawski

• Member of the Pennsylvania militia

• The National Rifle Association (soon to be renamed the National Assault-Rifle-35-shots-before-needing-to-reload Association) surely must be considering putting Mr. Poplawski on their next promotional materials.  Militia member Poplawski could be the poster boy for the “cold, dead hands” movement as he ambushed three Pittsburgh cops checking on a domestic violence call. And how’s this for irony: it is reported that this gun-loving whack job was upset because he thought the Obama Administration was going to enact tougher gun laws. I am still waiting for someone from the NRA to explain that logic to me.

 

Name: Michael McLendon

• Member of the Alabama militia

• I wonder if the Founding Fathers had Mr. McLendon in mind when crafting the second amendment? Militia member McLendon killed 10 people including members of his family in March. This supporter of the second amendment was packing two assault rifles, a handgun and a shotgun – and more than 200 rounds were fired in the rampage.  The muskets used during the Revolutionary War could fire 1 shot every 15 seconds. The Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle, one of the weapons used by Militia member McLendon, fires quite a bit more. Do you think any of the Founding Fathers might have altered the wording to the second amendment if someone could have squeezed off 60 rounds in two minutes in 1776 – hence wasting all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence in 120 seconds?

 

Name: Suspect Robert Stewart

• Member of the North Carolina militia

• Many second amendment supporters like to reminisce about their childhood when their grandfathers taught them the family tradition of hunting. I would like to think that militia member Stewart was feeling nostalgic for his time with his grandfather in the woods as he calmly opened up his gun and killed eight people in a North Carolina nursing home – some of them in wheel chairs.

 

With the 10-year anniversary of the horrific Columbine shootings on April 20, let’s relish the security we all feel in our free state by sidestepping background check laws and picking up an assault rifle or two at your next gun show – you just never know when the Red Coats are gonna come marching down your street.

 

Well regulated, my ass.

Comments

[Mike]

Great post. The Constitution may soon need amending to allow "the right to bear arms, and the right to wear body armor."

[Dave]

As Hillary Clinton understated recently, meaningful gun control is a "heavy lift." I just don't see if happening in this country. One of my favorite insights into this is the "Bowling for Columbine" comparison of the U.S. and Canada on the issue. Our countries share so much of the same DNA and issues. Yet the U.S. is permeated by fear, largely driven by the media. Guns aren't much of an issue in Canada.